Article by Capt. Mark Sampson
So here we are, smack in the middle of July, a tick on the calendar that for a lot of fishermen means that they’re close to, if not at, the middle of their fishing season. By September many will be back to school, back to work, back to their home in the big city, back to anywhere but where they want to be - the deck of their boat, favorite fishing pier, or stretch of beach, spending time doing what they really want to be doing - fishing!
With this season being so far along, anglers can now look back at the last few month’s accomplishments to consider if they’re on a trajectory to accomplish some of the goals they might have set for themselves back in the offseason. Have they caught that big flounder? Their first billfish, a keeper rockfish, a red drum? A bunch of tilefish, maybe a giant tautog? Have they made it to the cover of the Coastal Fisherman?
Since their final day on the water last year, many anglers spent a lot of time during the cold, fishless months, setting goals for themselves that they hoped to fulfill this season.
Personal goals are good for fishermen. They keep us focused and provide reason to explore new waters, try new techniques, and to keep fishing when others have given up. In 2000 I set a goal to catch a permit on a fly. It took me 13 years to finally catch that fish, but the quest kept me returning to Florida each winter for another shot at it. There’s a lot of other fishermen who pursue goals every bit as lofty, but what’s easy to lose track of is that there’s an even larger number of folks out there with very simple fishing goals of their own that, while they might seem rather humble to the rest of us, are just as important and every bit as challenging to them.
Maybe they’re too young or too old to fish by themselves and have no one to take them, or they might have financial issues that makes even the most modest of fishing trips too much of a luxury for them to afford. Perhaps they have physical complications, or they might simply have no clue about how to get started in fishing because they’ve never been exposed to it. Those of us who fish all the time might find it hard to comprehend, but there are so many people who are not worried about what they may or may not catch because just to be at the water's edge trying to catch a fish is enough, their goal is nothing more than to “go fishing.” Just being able to get on a boat for a half day of deep-sea fishing, stand on the Rt.50 Bridge and fish for flounder, or sit on a quiet dock and catch snapper bluefish and spot would be enough to make their fishing dreams come true.
As anglers, we know that there is something very primal about fishing. It does something for us that goes far beyond providing a fish dinner once in a while, it’s in our blood and we can’t imagine not having it as part of our lives. Now consider living with that desire but having no opportunity to quench the thirst for it. Living here on Delmarva, just as we are bordered by water, we are also surrounded by folks who have the strong desire, but not the means to go fishing. From children living with single parents who don’t have the ability to take their kids fishing, to elderly men and woman who may have spent a lifetime on the water but just can’t go fishing on their own anymore, there’s a lot of heart-breaking stories about people who could use an assist by those of us who have the ways and the means to make it happen.
The remedy is simple – just take someone fishing! You won’t have to look far to find someone who would like to go, they’re everywhere. As a fishing guide and charter captain I have the privilege every year to be included in plans to make fishing available to folks who don’t usually have a chance to go. The most rewarding part of my job is when I’m able to help a child catch their first fish or an elderly person hook what could be their last. The satisfaction that comes from making this happen is something all fishermen have an opportunity to enjoy for themselves by simply offering to take someone along on some of their fishing adventures.
Of course anglers should keep in mind that not all fishing trips are appropriate for all people. A 36-hour overnight trip to the canyons might be a once in a lifetime fishing experience but it could also be a bit overwhelming to someone who has never been out on the ocean before. When taking people with physical limitations, children, or those with little fishing experience it’s usually best to keep it simple, at least in the beginning and until it’s apparent that they can handle more extreme fishing. If you’re trying to introduce a child to fishing, the last thing you want to do is run them 40-miles offshore on a choppy day and have them be seasick for ten hours. Remember, many people just yearn for the chance to get out on the water and go fishing, they don’t necessarily need a 60-pound tuna or 200-pound shark to make their day. Bay or nearshore fishing that provides a little action with modest size fish can be all that’s needed to make someone really happy. Then, if all goes well, maybe future trips targeting larger fish further offshore can be planned, but the first time out the focus should be on keeping the experience comfortable and enjoyable for the special guests.
Every new season provides Delmarva anglers with a lot to look forward to, good reasons to have high expectations, and maybe even the chance to set and pursue some challenging goals. But those fishermen who also take the time and make the effort to share some of their experiences on the water with those who do not have the opportunity to do so on their own are sure to end their season with so much more than just a freezer full of fish. §
